Newark man runs a tavern in Belgium

Ret. Master Sgt. Steve Brockhuizen made a career switch after 16 years in the Air Force.

Since last July, Steve and Liliane Brockhuizen have been the owners and operators of Elliott's Tavern in Eksel, Belgium, a village of 5,000 residents. The eatery is named after their six-year-old son. Liliane, a Belgian, is the master chef, following several years of culinary school. The tavern menu includes steak, seafood, chicken, etc. and many beers, with a special glass designated for each beer.

The Brockhuizens live in a Flemish section of Belgium. Each weekend, some of the Americans living in the area around Eksel are likely to stop in and chat (in English) with Brockhuizen.

The 36-year-old was raised in Newark, the son of (the late) Patricia and Ed Brockhuizen. He graduated from high school in 1978 and joined the Air Force, which moved him around from Belgium and Germany, to Italy and Korea. He visited family in Newark in September and again in February.

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